PART ONE. THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS 3
Introduction 3
1 Command of language 5
1 The tools of trade 5
2 Acquiring skill 6
3 Addressing the Court 7
2 The interpretation of statutes 9
1 Finding the intention 9
2 'Ironing out the creases' 11
3 'A naked usurpation of the legislative function' 13
4 A voice from the past 15
5 The Treaty of Rome 17
6 International Convention 19
3 The interpretation of wills and other unilateral documents 23
1 The ghosts of dissatisfied testators 23
2 'No jurisdiction to achieve a sensible result' 23
3 Unusual common sense 26
4 Palm Tree Justice in the Court of Appeal 27
5 'I am a Portia man' 30
4 The construction of contracts 32
1 Consensus ad idem 32
2 The old strictness 32
3 The great advance of the implied term 33
4 A dangerous misunderstanding 35
5 The officious by-stander' 36
6 Should he be sent off the field? 36
7 'Presumed Intent' becoming fashionable 41
8 The foresight of a prophet 41
9 'Presumed Intent' takes hold 43
10 Frustration and 'Presumed Intent' 44
11 Exemption clauses and 'Presumed Intent' 45
12 Inflation and 'Presumed Intent' 48
13 Family Arrangements and 'Presumed Intent' 50
4 Looking for help 54
1 Negotiations and subsequent conduct 54
2 A master of words 55
PART TWO. MISUSE OF MINISTERIAL POWERS 61
Introduction 61
1 Deciding wrongly 63
1 When Tribunals fall into error 63
2 The Northumberland case 63
3 What is an 'error of law'? 66
2 Clauses ousting the courts 69
1 An obiter dictum 69
2 A decision made 'final' 70
3 The Anisminic case 72
4 Error of law goes to jurisdiction 74
5 Void or voidable 77
3 Declarations 79
1 The case of the Dock Labour Board 79
2 Pyx Granite 81
4 Other points on tribunals 83
1 Appeals from tribunals 83
2 Natural justice 84
3 Bias 86
5 Administrative decisions 88
1 'Judicial' v 'Administrative' 88
2 The Padfield case 89
3 Re HK 91
4 The duty to act fairly 92
5 Inquiries into a company's affairs 94
6 Clauses giving unfettered discretion 97
1 'If it appears to the Minister' 97
2 'If the Minister is satisfied' 99
7 Prerogative power 102
1 Freddie Laker's 'Skytrain' 102
8 The Ultra Vires clause 106
1 The Ashbridge case 106
2 Unguarded statements 108
PART THREE. LOCUS STANDI 113
Introduction 113
1 Modern extensions 115
1 'Person aggrieved' 115
2 The prerogative orders 116
2 The Blackburn cases 118
1 A matter of constitutional significance 118
2 The gaming clubs of London 119
3 Pornography in Soho 122
4 Censorship by the GLC 125
3 Declaration and injunction 128
1 The courageous Ross McWhirter 128
2 The high constitutional principle 132
4 The remedy of judicial review 133
5 Private rights 134
6 The Gouriet case 137
1 The story is told 137
2 The decision of the House of Lords 141
3 The effect of the Gouriet case 142
Conclusion 144
PART FOUR. ABUSE OF 'GROUP' POWERS 147
Introduction 147
1 Powers against own members 149
1 Look at the Rules 149
2 Domestic Tribunals must observe the law 150
3 The case of the Showmen's Guild 152
4 Damages for wrongful expulsion 154
5 Refusal to admit to membership 157
6 Refusing a woman because of her sex 160
7 A challenge by Boots 162
8 Unfair exclusion from membership 164
9 Unfair exclusion of shop steward 167
10 A lawyer for the defence 170
11 Statutory protection 174
2 Powers against other persons 175
Introduction 175
1 Inducing breach of contract 177
2 Turning a blind eye 178
3 Hindering or preventing performance 179
4 A strike notice of proper length 180
5 Direct interference with a contract 182
6 Unlawful means 184
7 Picketing and demonstrations 185
8 Obligation to provide work 188
9 The immunity of trade unions 189
10 In contemplation of a trade dispute 190
11 'Blacking' a ship 192
Conclusion 194
PART FIVE. HIGH TREES 197
Introduction 197
1 The High Trees case 199
1 The beginnings in 1921 199
2 The 'broad rule of justice' 200
3 The fences in the way 201
4 The High Trees case itself - promissory estoppel 203
5 Did it abolish consideration? 206
6 Extension to cover conduct 209
7 Extension of waiver 210
8 Detriment 214
9 Must parties be contractually bound? 215
10 Proprietary estoppel 216
11 Combining the estoppels 218
12 Payment of a lesser sum 221
Conclusion 223
PART SIX. NEGLIGENCE 227
Introduction 227
1 Leading up to Candler v Crane, Christmas 229
1 The law before 1932 229
2 Donoghue v Stevenson 230
3 Candler v Crane, Christmas 232
2 Doctors at law 237
1 Medical malpractice 237
2 Two stiff fingers 238
3 Anxieties relieved 241
4 A summing-up 242
3 The impact of Heddley Byrne 245
1 Hedley Byrne 245
2 Barristers 246
3 Borstal boys 250
4 Policy or operational 253
4 Houses falling down 255
1 Dutton's case 255
2 Valuers 261
3 Economic loss 264
4 Limitation Acts 266
5 Innocent representation made actionable 270
1 Representations inducing a contract 270
2 Esso Petroleum 273
3 The Misrepresentation Act 1967 274
6 Surprising consequences 277
1 Contract or tort 277
2 The duty of solicitors 278
Conclusion 280
PART SEVEN. THE DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT 285
Introduction 285
1 The doctrine of precedent 287
1 Dissenting in the Lords 287
2 The Romanes Lecture 291
3 Is the Court of Appeal bound by its own decisions? 297
4 Crown Privilege 300
5 Judgments in foreign currency 305
6 Exemplary damages 308
Conclusion 314
Epilogue 315
1 Nothing must be left undone 315
Index 317